Tell me about your carbon shafts

[Kopper1013]

Hey fellas,

Here's the thing my current setup is Byron Ferguson heavy Hunter 400 shafts with 100gr incerts and 150gr points for a grand total of 748.2gr. I'm shooting a 52# BW and my arrows are 29.5" so I'm looking at a little over 25gr per inch. I would like to try something in the 10gr per inch range.

Here's the problem, I LOVE these arrows I've had my dozen for 2-1/2 years, I've hit rocks, asphalt, concrete, logs, the metal poll inside a 3D deer leg time and time again and in all that time I've only broke two arrow. They can take a serious beating.

So my question is what are you guys shooting? Can they handle a beating? What would you recommend for a guy like me with a 52# BW drawing 27" I would like to have 250gr total up front?

Thanks for the help!!

[habujohn]

I have a light set of limbs with same poundage.  I shoot an axis 400 with brass insert 50gr.  I have a long broadhead insert that is 40 gr and then I am shooting an Ace Super Express at 180 gr.  To make my shafts as strong as possible I have a 2" allum collar over the shaft. and have three five inch feathers.  These shoot great and are tough as nails. Killed a nice little buck with this set up in October.

[Possum Head]

Pretty much been a GT guy and they've been durable. The Beman Bow hunters seem to have been the least tolerant to impacts that I have used. I have always heard it's hard to find a tougher shaft than carbon Express. Good thread perhaps others will chime in on there experience. I think a 500 will serve you well just trim slowly to your desired length.

[dhermon85]

If you like gold tips , try the 3555s. I've been pleased with mine. Shoot some out of 50# curve, 29" long with 250 up front.

[the rifleman]

Hi,  I use beman mfx 600s (no longer made-but I hear their centershots are close) and gold tip 1535 s out of a Toelke whip 50@28, but my draw is 26.  I very seldom break an arrow and shoot stumps, hit rocks etc.  I do foot the shafts w aluminum-- 1.25" at point end and 3/8" at nock end.  Some of the bemans have been shot so much they have quite a bit of the finish worn off.  Bemans w 75 gr insert and 125 tip are around 490 grs. Gold tips w 200 gr tip are close to that.  Hope this helps.  Good luck.

[TSHOOTER]

I have never found anything that tunes as well as arrow dynamics. I shoot ad lites full length with 100 gr brass inserts and 175-200 gr heads from a high performance longbow 53@28.   I draw 27.  I can shoot 125 gr heads with no change in tune.  I just prefer the higher foc and 575-600 gr total arrow weight.

[the rifleman]

Hi,  I use beman mfx 600s (no longer made-but I hear their centershots are close) and gold tip 1535 s out of a Toelke whip 50@28, but my draw is 26.  I very seldom break an arrow and shoot stumps, hit rocks etc.  I do foot the shafts w aluminum-- 1.25" at point end and 3/8" at nock end.  Some of the bemans have been shot so much they have quite a bit of the finish worn off.  Bemans w 75 gr insert and 125 tip are around 490 grs. Gold tips w 200 gr tip are close to that.  Hope this helps.  Good luck.

I shoot a 32" Gold Tip XT Hunter shaft (.400 spine) with 100gr brass insert and 150gr point and 3-4" feathers off of my 50# Sarrels Blueridge longbow. It comes in right at 530gr total weight. They are pretty tough. They will break when you hit something real hard, but I have shooting the same dz for nearly a year, and I shoot a LOT!!!

Bisch

[**DONOTDELETE**]

If you don't mind having a bit longer arrow you could make the CE Heritage 250 shafts work with 250 up front.... cutting them down to 29.5" might be a bit stiff for that black widow with a 27" draw length unless its cut past center....Which model BW are you shooting?
 
I'm running the 250's at 55@30" draw 31" length with about 250 total up front.total weight is 568.

CE Heritage is the toughest carbon shaft i've used so far..... You could definitely use a CE 150 spine and cut them to 29". They'll be lighter weight though .... then again... it depends on the past center cut of the shelf.

[M60gunner]

I have found the Easton Axis with 100grain inserts, 145 grain points and a 2 in alum footing a very tough arrow. Have hit rebar holding 3d's in ground and just replaced bent tip. No damage to shaft. The alum footing will add life to most any carbon shaft.
I also use the CE 250's with 100 grain inserts and 145 grain points from a 60# recurve. Not as much weight as you may like but arrows are very tough.

[Bladepeek]

Not to be too nitpicking, but I think you mixed apples and oranges with your initial numbers. That 748.2 gr arrow does in fact give you around 25 gr/inch, and approximately 14.9 gr per pound of bow weight at a 27" draw. If you reduce the weight to 10 gr per inch of arrow, that would give you a 295 gr arrow and around 5.9 gr per pound of draw weight - way too light for most bows recommendations/warranties.

I think you meant you would like to reduce the arrow to around 10 gr per pound of draw weight (GPP), which would mean somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 gr total arrow weight.

All of the responses were geared to that goal and provided good advice. I just wanted to point out that you have to be careful confusing "grains per inch" (GPI) and grains per pound (GPP).

signed: an English major with an engineering background who often gets a bit anal  

All-time favorite is the Alaska Bowhunting Supply Sitka shaft, but they are very pricey so most of the time I'm shooting 3555 blem's from Big Jim with 200 grains up front and 4" 3-fletch, hard right helical. Sitka's did best with 5" banana fletching.

[Kopper1013]

Bladepeek you are correct that's what I ment, thank you. Thank you all for your responses I am shooting a BW PTF by the way and the shelf is cut 3/16" past center.

[Piratkey]

Gold tip 3555 cut to 28,6" ,50 grains long alu insert + 200 grains head ,wrap,4 feathers 4".

[jonsimoneau]

My setup for 53 pound limbs is basically identical to that of Habujohn. One tip from Steve O that will save money is to JB weld the inserts in.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Kopper1013:
Bladepeek you are correct that's what I ment, thank you. Thank you all for your responses I am shooting a BW PTF by the way and the shelf is cut 3/16" past center.

I think you can do the 250 Heritage shafts with that bow being cut past center and get the weight around 550 using some brass up front.

[Flingblade]

I'm shooting a 52 lb. BW PSA and I second the Arrow Dynamics Trad lites.  I also like the AD Hammer Head lites.  I think the Hammer Heads weigh in at 605 grains for a 30 inch arrow.  I use the standard inserts and can shoot 125-200 grain heads without a change.  I don't know if they are as tough as the Heavy Hunters but in all the years I've shot them I've only broke one and that is because I stepped on it.  They won't handle 300 lbs to the side of the shaft for sure.

[el chupa nibre]

If you're looking for a very tough arrow, look for one that is able to utilize a full outsert for your point/broadhead. Not an engineer, but it only makes sense that a full sleeve over the end of arrow will prevent mushrooming. Firenock, Widowmaker, and Black Eagle each offer full outserts for a variety of carbon arrows. The only issue you may have is with tuning your sideplate as only micro-diameter arrows fit those full outserts.

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

I shoot GT 7595 black arrows, full length, 100 grain brass insert with 175grn heads out of the bow listed below.  I also use a 2x5" fletching setup.  They have proven to be very tough, easy to tune, and fly very well.

[njloco]

How about this, gt 1535's @ 26 1/2" draw 28" long 3 x 3" rightwing feathers,
100 gr brass inserts, 100 gr broadhead screw on adapters, 160gr grizzly right bevel broadheads. They come in around 600 gr total weight and fly like darts or really really fast. I also noticed they are effected by cross winds very little.